Chapter 15 - Sonya

“What happened out there, Jack?” I demand as I watch him pace the kitchen like a caged animal. His knuckles are split, raw, and bruised, and I can’t ignore the anger simmering just beneath his calm facade. I’ve seen him frustrated before, but this is different. This is like he’s been set off and can’t find the off switch.

He stops mid-step, running a hand through his hair and wincing when his fingers brush against the cut on his forehead. “It was Tanner,” he finally answers, and my heart sinks. “He said some things about you. About us.”

“I told you not to go looking for him!”

“I didn’t, I swear. I went to the bar with Reiner, and he just happened to be there. We tried to avoid him, but he just kept pushing.”

I cross my arms, trying to hold onto the last shreds of patience I have left. “What kind of things did he say, Jack?”

He hesitates, glancing at me with eyes that are full of regret, and I know whatever he’s about to say isn’t good. “He said you weren’t attractive. That even if you were naked in front of me, I wouldn’t want you.” The words spill out in a rush, and he recoils like he’s in physical pain just saying them.

The floor feels like it’s tilting beneath me, and for a second, I can’t breathe. It’s the same damn story, just with a different cast of characters. I’ve heard this before, not just in Stardust Hollow, but all my life. Growing up, I was always the girl who didn’t quite fit in, especially after my dad died. My mom was so lost in her grief, she barely noticed me. I was left alone to figure out how to navigate the world by myself. Stardust Hollow wasn’t any better. My ex and his friends made sure of that.

I thought I left all this behind when I left Stardust Hollow, but here it is again, as though I never left. I force myself to breathe, to swallow down the hurt clawing at my throat.

“You didn’t have to fight him,” I snap, trying to keep my voice steady, but it wavers at the edges. “I’m not some helpless little girl who needs protecting, Jack. I can handle jerks like Tanner. I’ve been handling them my whole life.”

He looks at me, and his brown eyes darken with something I can’t quite place. “You shouldn’t have to handle it. You shouldn’t have to deal with any of that crap.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Welcome to my world, Jack. This is how it’s always been. People make their little comments, have their laughs, and I’m the joke. This isn’t new.”

“It’s not right,” he insists, and there’s a fierce edge to his voice that catches me off-guard. “You deserve better than that, Sonya.”

I shake my head, feeling the familiar sting of tears at the back of my eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I deserve. This is the reality. People see me and think I’m not good enough. Not pretty enough. Not… enough.”

Jack flinches at my words like I’ve struck him, and he opens his mouth to say something, but I’m not done. I can’t stop now, not now that I’ve started.

“Do you know why I left Stardust Hollow?” I ask, the words tumbling out before I can second-guess them. “It wasn’t just because my ex cheated on me and was getting married. It was because of his friends, the way they talked about me, laughed at me. They said I should’ve known that I wasn’t his type, that I was too heavy, too plain, and you know what? They were right. He found someone who fit his standards, and I was the joke they all laughed about behind my back.”

Jack’s face darkens even more, and his jaw tightens as he listens. I can see the anger boiling in him, ready to explode. But I’m too far gone to care. I’ve held this in for too long, and now that it’s out, I can’t stop.

“I’m not going through that again,” I continue, my voice rising. “I’m not dealing with side comments, whispers, and people feeling sorry for me. I just want to get through this wedding and hope everyone forgets about me afterward.”

For a moment, Jack is silent. His eyes are locked on mine with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. “They’re idiots,” he says, his voice sharp and certain. “Every single one of them. They don’t know you, Sonya. They don’t see you the way I do.”

I roll my eyes, turning away from him, but he steps closer. “Sonya, you’re beautiful. You’re strong. And you deserve to be treated with respect.”

I swallow hard, and my heart races as I turn back to face him. He’s close now, closer than I realized, and there’s something in his eyes that makes it hard to breathe. It’s not pity, not sympathy—it’s something else, something that feels a lot like belief. Like he means every word he’s saying, and it terrifies me because I want to believe it, too.

“You deserve to be defended,” Jack continues. “Not because you need it, but because you’re worth defending. You’re worth everything.”

I stare at him, trying to make sense of the storm of emotions crashing through me. He’s looking at me like I’m something precious, something worth fighting for, and it makes my chest ache with a longing I’ve been trying so hard to ignore.

“Jack,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I don’t need—”

He reaches out and cups my cheek in his hand, and the warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine. “You deserve so much more than those assholes ever gave you credit for,” he murmurs as he brushes his thumb against my skin. “You’re perfect, Sonya. Just the way you are.”

Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them back, refusing to let them fall. But Jack’s still looking at me, and it’s like he’s seeing right through every wall I’ve ever put up.

“Why do you always have to be the one to fight?” I ask. “Why do you care so much?”

“Because it’s you,” he says simply, and the way he says it makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst right out of my chest. “You’ve always been more than enough, Sonya. For anyone. For me.”

I’m caught in his gaze, unable to look away, and for a moment, the weight of his words hangs between us. It’s like he’s offering me a lifeline, something solid to hold onto when everything else feels too uncertain.

The space between us disappears, and before I know it, his lips are on mine again. The kiss is slow, almost hesitant at first, but when I kiss him back, it’s like something ignites. The anger, the frustration, the pain—it all melts away under the heat of his touch. His hands are on my waist, pulling me closer, and I can feel the solid warmth of him against me, grounding me in a way I didn’t know I needed.

He kisses me like he’s been waiting for this, like he’s been holding back for too long, and all the tension that’s been building between us finally snaps. My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, and he responds by deepening the kiss. His tongue slides against mine in a way that sends a bolt of heat straight to my core.

For a moment, it’s just us—the taste of him, the feel of his hands on my skin, the way he’s holding me like I’m something worth cherishing. I lose myself in the kiss, in the way he makes me feel like I’m not just good enough but more than enough. And for once, I let myself believe it.

I don’t want this to end. I don’t want to pull away and face whatever comes next. But right now, with Jack’s lips on mine and his hands holding me close, I don’t have to think about any of that. I don’t have to worry about what people will say or how things will change. All I have to do is feel. And right now, that’s enough.

I can feel his growing erection pressing against me, and I grind my hips against his, desperate for more friction. A low groan bubbles up his throat, and he hoists me up onto the counter, his mouth never leaving mine. I wrap my legs around his waist, and we move together, his hips rocking against mine in a delicious rhythm that has heat pooling between my thighs. His fingers trail along the hem of my shirt, brushing against the bare skin of my stomach, and a shiver runs through me.

“Can I?” he whispers, and the sound of his voice is like a jolt of electricity, sending a surge of need through me.

I nod, and his hands slide up, his fingers grazing the curve of my breasts. He cups them gently, and a soft moan escapes my lips as he teases my nipples through the thin fabric of my bra. His touch is light, teasing, and it’s driving me crazy.

I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t do anything except feel. His lips are on mine, his hands exploring every inch of exposed skin, and it’s all too much and not enough, all at the same time.

I arch against him, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he presses against me, his body a solid, warm presence that makes me want more, need more. I want to feel his skin against mine, to have his hands and mouth on every part of me, to drown in the pleasure he’s giving me.

“Jack, please,” I gasp, not sure what I’m asking for, but he seems to understand.

His hand slides down, and he cups my ass, pulling me even closer as he trails kisses along my jaw and down the column of my neck. Every touch, every caress, is like a brand, searing into my skin and making my entire body feel like it’s on fire.

His fingers tease at the hem of my shorts, and when he finally slips a hand beneath the waistband, I nearly come apart right then and there. His touch is feather-light, his fingers skimming over my sensitive flesh, and when he strokes my clit, it’s like the world explodes around me.

I cling to him with my arms wrapped tightly around his neck as he brings me higher and higher, the pleasure building with each passing second. When he finally slides a finger inside me, it’s like I’ve been waiting for this, like every nerve in my body is singing with anticipation.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” he murmurs against my ear, his voice rough and strained.

I can only moan in response. My body moves of its own accord, grinding against his hand as he works his fingers in and out of me. He curls them inside me, finding that perfect spot, and the world shatters around me.

My vision blurs and my muscles clench as I come undone, and the only thing keeping me grounded is Jack’s steady presence. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me close, and his breath is warm against my skin as he whispers words of encouragement.

It’s intense, almost overwhelming, and for a moment, it’s like the whole world disappears and the only thing that exists is the two of us, lost in the pleasure we’re creating.

I come down slowly, the waves of pleasure ebbing away, and I slump against Jack’s chest, spent.

He holds me for a long moment, stroking my back, and when I finally catch my breath, I look up at him. He’s smiling, a soft, gentle smile that’s filled with a tenderness I didn’t expect. But when I reach down to stroke him through his jeans, the smile falters, and he stops me.

“Sonya, we should—”

“Stop?” I finish for him. My cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, and I try to pull away, but his grip on my arm tightens.

“No, not stop. We should slow down. This isn’t the right time.”

I blink, confused. I don’t understand. This man has slept with half the female population in Green Lake. He just went through this whole monologue about how amazing I am and how he wants to fight for me, and now he’s rejecting me. Again.

I yank my arm away, and he lets me go. I’m tired of this back-and-forth. I’m tired of wondering what’s going on between us, what we are to each other. And more than anything, I’m tired of hoping for something that’s clearly never going to happen.

“I’m going to bed,” I say, and my voice is cold, emotionless.

I walk out of the kitchen, and he doesn’t try to stop me.